Album Review: Slash – World On Fire
3 min read
Hard rock guitar legend Slash is back for thirds, his latest solo studio album World On Fire is gearing up to set the music universe ablaze; refraining again from featuring an array of star vocalists as done previously on his 2010 self-titled debut, World On Fire sees Slash collaborate again with Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators as he did on his second album Apocalyptic Love. The chemistry between the group was evident on his sophomore effort, it makes sense to record an album together again; this time Slash turns to Michael Baskette to handle the record’s production duties, the last two albums were produced by Eric Valentine.
The album cuts to the chase with its lead single, World On Fire is an intense inferno of a track that pumps you for a record packed with killer guitar work, wicked vocals and incredible hard rock hooks; Myles Kennedy sure knows how to turn up the heat, that voice of his is perfect for this project and you wouldn’t have it any other way. Shadow Life‘s riff is dark and addictive, it’s deep sound gets under your skin; Automatic Overdrive keeps you interested with an uptempo presence, you find yourself following its every move. Third single 30 Years To Life begins like a tribute to the Guns N’ Roses hit Paradise City, not by sounding heavily similar, but the structure of it; the track soon steps out of that feel and owns itself. Just when you thought second single Bent To Fly was going to remain a tad down key it explodes into its chorus, same can’t be said for Stone Blind as it entices you from the word go; the stop starting introduction for Too Far Gone gets you keen for what will unfold, but this track doesn’t captivate you like the last few tracks. Beneath The Savage Sun invites you back into the excitement of addictive guitar riffs and a beat you won’t forget.
Withered Delilah is in no way a reference to the life that still remains in the album, it’s another upbeat number that makes you yearn for more; Battleground is seven minutes of heaven, we hear a more sweeter tone to Myles’ power house vocal and the overall laid back (but not quite so) sound demonstrates Slash can be just as dynamic as he is incredible with the sound he goes for. Dirty Girl is the typical hard rock insight to the hard rocker’s bedroom, Iris Of The Storm has a guitar hook that really drives it and makes the track memorable whilst Avalon delivers the enthusiastic pace we’ve come to know and love from Slash. The Dissident is oddly introduced by a short and grainy folk number before the guitars and drums kick in to lift the atmosphere, Myles delivers another stellar vocal performance; fourth single Safari Inn is the only instrumental track on the album, it is so spectacular you don’t notice Kennedy’s absence. The Unholy brings the album to a worthy end, Kennedy’s vocal is dynamic from a roar to a whisper, the track is just as ignited as the others.
World On Fire is a solid release and commendable effort from Slash, with a little help from his friends Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators; it’s seventeen tracks of memorable riffs, killer vocal parts and atmospheric instrumentations that has a grip that just won’t let you go that easily. Nearly every track on World On Fire is a stand out, Slash’s guitar work is predictably unreal and keeps you enticed; he wouldn’t want to exhaust his collaboration with Myles Kennedy though, as well as they work together to deliver their sound they will need to up their game to keep fans and listeners interested in their chemistry. Evidently with Apocalyptic Love and now World On Fire, their delivery is yet to suffer tiredness; this album is a must have for Slash fans and aspiring future guitar legends.
